NEW D-BACKS PITCHER
Japanese reliever, 34, joins D-Backs’ bullpen
When Opening Day rolls around, right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano will be 34 years old, but the Diamondbacks’ Japanese import has no concerns about his age factoring into his ability to get big-league hitters out. “There have been a lot of players from Japan who have jumped over to the big leagues at my age,” Hirano said Monday morning at an introductory news conference at Salt River Fields, his first appearance in Arizona since signing a two-year, $6 million deal in December.
“Some of those guys pitched well into their 40s. I still don’t feel like I’m on the downside of my career. Hopefully, I can continue the success that I had in Japan.”
Hirano, a reliever, pointed to a pair of examples: Koji Uehara and Kazuhiro Sasaki.
Both arrived in the majors in their 30s – Uehara at 34, Sasaki at 32 – and both featured repertoires similar to Hirano’s.
Neither had overpowering fastballs but relied on swing-and-miss secondary offerings.
Like them, Hirano sits in the low-90s with his fastball and possesses an aboveaverage splitter.
“It’s the number one pitch that a lot of Japanese pitchers have had who have succeeded historically,” said Diamondbacks Director of Pacific Rim Operations Mack Hayashi, who served as Hirano’s interpreter on Monday. “I’m hoping that will translate.”
Hirano spent the past five seasons as the closer for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, Japan’s top league.
He’ll come to camp vying for the same role with the Diamondbacks, and he said the opportunity to close was a factor in his decision to sign with them.
“I’ve been a closer in Japan, so ultimately, hopefully, that will be my role,” he said.
“But I’m willing to pitch in any situation.”
Hirano, who will become the second Japanese player, after Takashi Saito in the 2012 season, in Diamondbacks history, is expected to compete with righthander Archie Bradley and fellow newcomer Brad Boxberger for ninth-inning duties.